Submerged sectional filter



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.. H; G. TEACHER & G. H. BREYMANN.

SUBMERGED SEGTIONAL FILTER.

Patented Oct. 25

N. PETERS. Phrumn n m wumn um, o. a

(No Model.) 2 Shets-'Sheet 2. H. C. TEACHER & G. H; BREYMANN.

SUBMERGED SBOTIONAL FILTER.

Patented Oct. 25, 1887..

UNITED" ST TES I PATENT Orrrca.

HORACE O. TEACHER AND GEORGE H. BREYMANN, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

SUBMERGED SECTIONAL FILTER.

SPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,185, dated October25, 1887.

Application filed March 5, 1887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HORACE O. TEACHER and. GEORGE H.BREYMANN,'Gi1JlZeDS of the United States, residing at Toledo, in thecounty of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a new and usefulSubmerged Sectional Filter for Public Water-Supply, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to filters designed to filter water in largequantities, as required for town or city supply; and it consists in asubmerged filter, of tunnel or box form, having filtering-walls ofuniform thickness throughout, the structure being divided by partitionsinto independent sections, from any or all of which water may be drawnto supply the pump-well, and through which water may be forcedin thereverse direction, section by section, under the full pressure due tothe height of water in the reservoir or stand-pipe into which thefiltered water is pumped.

The invention further consists in various features and details ofconstruction, hereinafter set forth, whereby the foregoing and otherimportant results are attained. I

- In the drawings annexed, Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improvedfilter,showing three sections or divisions, one complete, another withthe outer framing and the filling in section, and the remaining oneinvertical section without the filling; Fig. 2, a top plan view,likewiseshowing one section complete, another partially broken away, and a thirdwith one side entirely removed; Fig. 3, a vertical trans verse sectiontaken at the middleof one of the sections; Fig. 4, a view illustratingperforated metal in place of the wire-netting shown in other figures;and Fig. 5 a view showing telescopic valve-rods.

Filters have heretofore been constructed in.

efficiency of the filter is not onl y attended with great cost, but alsoinvolves much loss of time, during which water must be used in an unfil-Serial No. 229,749. (No model.)

tered condition or taken from a source independent of the ordinarysupply. In order to overcome this difficulty, it has been proposed toreverse thedirection of the flow of the water through the filteringmaterial in cases where the filter is placed at an elevationintermediate between that of the source from which the water is takenand 'thatof the point at which the water enters the mains orservice-pipes as, for instance, between the dam and the reservoir ofa'service supplied from a running stream. When a submerged filter. isem- .ployed, however, as is generally done when taking water from a lakeor from a stream having but little fall, the conditions differ entirelyfrom those met with where the elevation of the source'of supply affordsthe head, and it is impracticable to reverse the direction of the flowof Water through the filtering material to the pumps which raise thewater to the required height. We therefore provide a pipe or con nectionextending from the reservoir or stand pipe to the interior ofthe filter,through which water under high pressure may be forced outward throughthe filtering-walls; and we further provide valves, by which the watermay be caused to be carried to the sections independently and one at atime. In this manner we are enabled to cleanse the filter-sectionsthoroughly and rapidly, owing to the force with which the water iscaused to pass through the walls, the sediment being dislodged andthrown off at the outside. I

The construction and arrangement will be more readily understood uponreferring to the drawings, in which A indicates a base formed of heavytimbers suitably tied together and calked or made water-tight, and B atunnelshaped structure closed at its ends and erected upon or supportedby said base, as best illus trated in Fig. 3.

While it is preferred to adopt the arch form indicated in Fig. 3,because of its strength and ability to resist pressure from without,other forms may be made use of without departing from the substance ofour invention.

The body B is composed of an inner shell or wall, a, and an outer shellor wall, I), both built up of iron of suitable size and shape riveted orbolted together to produce a strong open frame-work for each shell orwall, the p two being connected by stay rods or bolts 0, which serve tomaintain the two walls at a fixed distance apart. Each of these openframes or walls is provided with wire netting or grating d, of a meshproportioned to the size and character of the filling placed in thespace between the inner and outer shells, and forming thefiltering-body.

I11 practice we propose to use coke crushed to proper size, andpreferably of uniform size throughout, though it may be desirable insome cases to use finer material next the inner wall than is used nearerthe outer wall.

As above stated, the ends of the structure B are closed, for whichpurpose we may use heavy planking, with or without iron stays orbracing, forming heads 0, and for the purpose of dividing the filterinto separate chambers or compartments we provide a series of partitionsor bulk-heads, D, similar in construction to the heads 0. To make theheads and partitions tight and prevent the planks or timbers fromgetting out of proper relation, their opposing faces or edges aregrooved, and a strip, f, of wood, metal, or other suitable material, isdriven into the grooves, as indicated in Fig. 1.

E indicates a pipe, through which water is conveyed from the filter tothe pump-well F, whence it is raised by pumps to the reservoir orstand-pipe G, to give it the requisite head for supplying theservicemains. This pipe E extends through the several sections of thefilter, the number of which may be varied as desired, and is furnishedwith a short lateral branch, 9, within each chamber, each branch beingfurnished with a controlling-valve, H, as shown in the several figures,so that communieation may be established or cut off between the pipe andany or all of the filter-sections at will. One end of pipe E opens intothe pump-well, or connects directly with the pump, and the other end,within the last section of the filter, is closed, so that water may passonly through the branches 9.

The filter being submerged,it is necessary to extend the operating rodsor stems it of the valves H up to a point above the level of the waterin which the filter is placed, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3; but toprevent these stems from being injured by passing boats or vessels orice, or from causing injury to the former,we provide each stem with auniversal joint, 2', at a point just above the top of the filter, sothat when not required for use the rods may be permitted to drop or folddown thereon.

For the purpose of locating the rods and bringing them readily toposition for use, we adopt the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1, and tosome extent shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Each rod or stem it passes through acollar, j, carried by two brace-rods, 7c, hinged or pivotally attachedto cars l, secured to the top of the filter at opposite sides ofthelongitudinal axis of the structure, as shown in Fig. 3, the twobraces standing on aline at right angles to said axis. By thisarrangement each rod is caused to rise and fall in the direction of thelength of the filter,moving through the collar during such rise andfall.

From the collar j, nearest one end of the strueturethe end farthest fromthe pump-well in the drawings-a chain, m, passes back and downwardbeneath and around a pulley, n, and thence to a float or buoy, I, whichserves to locate the filter and the chain. From each collarj a chain,1), extends to the next collar, as shown in Fig. 1, said chains being ofsuch length as to permit one rod to rise and fall while the nextmaintains a vertical position. The slack thus allowed is ordinarilytaken up by booking the chains upon hooks q, projecting from thecollars, as shown in Fig. 1, so that all the rods and their braces maybe caused to rise or fall together by simply drawing up or letting outthe chain at, which goes to the buoy, a stop-chain, 1', being providedto prevent the rods and braces from moving too far. To hold the rods inan upright position,the chain at is engaged with a hook, q, of thecollar, to which one end of the chain is made fast. If it be desired tolower a particular rod or stem h, this may be done by unhooking thechain which holds it up and letting out the slack.

J indicates a pipe leading from the reservoir or stand-pipe and openinginto the pipe E at a point between the pump-well and the branchgnearestthereto. This pipe Jis furnished with a valve, K, and is for thepurpose of taking water under full head or pressure from the reservoiror stand-pipe to the interior of the filter, into'which it escapesthrough the branches 9, only one branch being opened at a time, however,so that the force and action of the water may be confined to andconcentrated in a single section. Owing to the force thus secured, andto its concentration within comparatively narrow limits, the waterentering the filter-section forces its way rapidly through the filteringmaterial, and passing outward dislodgcs and carries otf the sedimentdeposited upon the exterior of the section and in the filteringmaterial. In this way the sections may be quickly and effectuallycleansed, and hence the filter need not be kept for any considerablelength of time out of use. Care will of course be taken to have thereservoir well filled before beginning the cleansing operation, in orderthat the service may not be cut off, and so, also, that abundant waterfor cleansing may be at hand.

The capacity of the filter should be such as 'to afford abundant waterfor the ordinary service, and should have a considerable margin beyondthis, in order that in case of unusual demand the filter may not becomean obstruction; but to guard against injury to the filter on the onehand, or insufficiency of supply on the other, each section is furnishedwith an automatic inwardly-opening valve, L, weighted to hold it closeduntil apreseribedlimitis reached,

whereupon it will'open and permit water to enter through the inlet towhich the valve is applied. Thus provided, the filter will continue topurify all the water needed to supply the pump or pumps under allordinary circumstances, and even when the demand exceeds the average;but in theevent of alarge fire,or other occurrence necessitating asupply of water greatly in excess of the ordinary quantity,there wouldbe danger of drawing off the water in the filter faster than it could bereplenished through the filtering-walls, in which case a partial vacuumwould be produced therein,and the external pressure would be liable tocrush in the walls or force out the filling and destroy the structure,were not the automatic relief-valves provided. So, too, if in cleansingthe filter-sections an excessive or unusually great head of water shouldbe turned into the same, the filter might be injured unless provisionfor relief be made; hence each chamber is furnished with anoutwardly-opening valve, M, weighted to offer a certain resistance tothe outward pressure of the water used in cleansing, but to yield andafford a free outlet therefor when the prescribed limit is reached.

Practical experience has demonstrated that a certain velocity isnecessary to enable water to dislodge and carry off the sedimentdeposited in the filtering material,and that this velocity must becomparatively high. The ordinary current of a stream will not answer thepurpose, nor will the head usually attained in town and city systems doso unless the action is concentrated and confined to comparativelynarrow limits; hence the importance of the connection with the reservoiror stand-pipe and the means for confining the action to a single sectionat a time.

The branches ghave their mouths at or near the centers of the respectivefilter-sections, and owing to this arrangement,and to the fact that thefiltering-walls are of like thickness and character at all points, thewater will pass through all parts alike-a matter especially important incleaning,because the water would otherwise flow out at the point orpoints of least resistance and leave other parts uncleaned.

Perforated metal plates may be used instead of the netting d, andsliding or telescopic valve-rods may be employed instead of jointed orfolding rods, as respectively shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1..Thecombination,substantiallyasset forth, of a sectional filter, anexhaust-pipe extendin g through the several sections,provided with anopening into each and connecting with the pump by which the water isdrawn off, vaives applied to each of said openings, an elevated reservoir or stand-pipe arranged to receive water from the pump, andavalved pipe connecting thereservoir or stand-pipe with the exhaustpipe,whereby the water of the reservoir may be discharged under full headinto any section M, respectively adapted to open inward and outward atpredetermined pressures.

3. In combination with an elevated reservoir, a submerged filterconsisting of a series of separated and independent sections eachcommunicating directly with the source of supply, a suction or exhaustpipe provided with a series of branches, one opening into each of saidsections, a valve applied to each branch, 21. pipe opening from thereservoir into the exhaust-pipe, and a valve applied to the pipe fromthe reservoir.

'4, The combination of asubmerged filter, a pump connected therewith andserving to withdraw the water therefrom, and an automatic relief-valveapplied to the filter and arranged to open into the filter when theexhaust exceeds a prescribed limit.

5. In combination with a submerged filter and an exhaust-pipe therefor,a valve applied to the exhaust-pipe, and a rod extending from said valveto a point above the filter and provided with a joint, whereby it isadapted to fold down upon the filter when not in use.

6. In combination with a submerged filter and its exhaust-pipe, a valveapplied to said pipe,and a rod composed oftwo parts,one capable of riseand fall independently of the other and connected with the stem of saidvalve, substantially as described and shown, whereby it .is adapted tobe raised to the surface of the HORACE o. TEACHER. GEORGE H. BREYMANN.

Witnesses:

- JOHN J. TIMMER,

LA FAYETTE S. SULLIVAN.

